Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal writes to CM Fadnavis, seeks subsidy for onion farmers

NASHIK: Wholesale onion prices at the country's largest wholesale market, the Lasalgaon APMC, have fallen below Rs 1,000 per quintal, pushing farmers into heavy losses. The average wholesale price has declined from Rs 1,500 per quintal to Rs 975 per quintal across district APMCs over the past month.

On Wednesday, Lasalgaon recorded an average price of Rs 975 per quintal - a six-month low.

Prices rose marginally to Rs 1,075 per quintal on Thursday, but remain far below the cost of production. According to onion growers, the production cost is around Rs 1,800 per quintal. "Farmers incur heavy losses if they get prices below that," they said, adding that at current rates, losses are mounting. State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking a grant of Rs 500 per quintal for farmers who sold onions at lower rates. Bhujbal also stressed the need for a long-term onion policy to stabilise prices and prevent recurring financial distress for growers. Meanwhile, around 24,000 quintals of onions were auctioned at Lasalgaon on Thursday. The minimum and maximum wholesale prices stood at Rs 400 and Rs 1,515 per quintal, respectively, while the average was Rs 1,075 per quintal.